Ambulance Victoria reveals five more painkiller theft cases

Ambulance Victoria today revealed a further five cases in which paramedics have been accused of stealing the powerful painkiller fentanyl from ambulance supplies since 2008.

Three of the paramedics were fired after they stole the highly addictive drug, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said, while two others resigned before investigations were completed.

In one of the cases revealed today, seven patients in northern Victoria were affected after the drug, which is up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, was siphoned from the bottle. The paramedic involved in that case, who has since been fired, is believed to have replaced the fentanyl with water.

"The local community was advised and we spoke directly to patients," the spokeswoman said.

"Victoria Police was notified in all of these case in line with our processes."

Revelations of the further five cases come after two paramedics were arrested this month over the alleged theft of the high potency liquid.

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A 40-year-old paramedic was arrested and interviewed on Tuesday morning after police executed a search warrant at a South Melbourne address.

The man was released pending summons and he was expected to be stood down, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said.

A 47-year-old Donvale man had been interviewed by police on October 5 and released pending the application of a summons.

The Age revealed on Monday that a large amount of fentanyl had been siphoned off from hundreds of vials and is now missing after being replaced with tap water.

Ambulance Victoria chief executive Greg Sassella said the service had contacted the "many hundreds" of patients who may have been given tap water instead of fentanyl.

The Age believes there is evidence that criminals have been involved in the tampering.

Ambulance Victoria approached Orion Laboratories, the Perth-based manufacturer of fentanyl, about a year ago and requested vials that were made more secure.

Mr Sassella said Ambulance Victoria was now using the more secure vials, after the manufacturer was urged to speed up the replacement process in the wake of the theft being reported on September 26.